If you and your ex share physical custody of your child, it means you share the right to live with the child at certain times. For instance, perhaps you live with them one week, and then you drop them off at your ex’s house, where they spend the following week. By splitting up the time that each of you spend, the child gets to be with both parents, which helps to maintain a relationship with each of you. It also helps to spread out the realistic obligation of caring for the child and providing for them.
But a child custody order will also address which parent has legal custody. In some cases, parents will share legal custody, just as they share physical custody. What will this mean for your relationship moving forward?
You and your ex still have to cooperate
If you share legal custody, it means that you both have the ability to make major decisions for your child. Common examples include:
- What religion the child is brought up in
- Where the child goes to school
- What type of healthcare the child receives
If one parent has sole legal custody, then they can make all of these important decisions as it seems prudent to them. But if you and your ex share custody, then neither one of you has the right to independently make choices without consulting the other.
This can sometimes lead to conflicts. Maybe you want to enroll your child in a specific school or authorize a certain type of medical care, but your ex is opposed to it. This can cause disagreements and can potentially even lead to litigation. It is very important to understand all of your legal options at this time.
